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Waterfront Park project set to begin in Point Edward

Construction is set to begin in Point Edward this spring on a splash pad, pictured here in this artist's rendering. The splash pad -- along with a new pavilion and field house with washrooms -- will be located in Waterfront Park underneath the Blue Water Bridge. (Handout)

Officials in Point Edward are making plans to celebrate the opening of a new splash pad, field house and pavilion in the village's Waterfront Park, in time for Canada Day.

All Seasons Excavating has been awarded a $506,000 contract to build a splash pad where a ball diamond currently sits in the popular park next to the Blue Water Bridge.

Jim Burns, the village's chief administrative officer, said tenders were out this week for a second contract for the building of a pavilion and a field house, with family and accessible washrooms and change rooms, next to the splash pad.

The field house will also hold mechanical equipment for the splash pad.

The pavilion is expected to have room for 18 to 20 picnic tables, and provide shade for families using the splash pad.

Construction of the splash pad is set to begin in early April, depending on the weather, Burns said.

“We're doing the archeological review right now, so we're hoping that things go smoothly with that, and that doesn't create any delays,” he said.

The splash pad project was initiated by the Point Edward Optimist Club and in 2016 it handed over its $100,000 contribution during its annual Bridge Bash fundraising event, held in the park.

The project also received $100,000 from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, set up as part of the celebrations of this year's 150th anniversary of Confederation.

The work on the new facilities in Waterfront Park is expected to be completed in time for the anniversary.

“We're planning a big event on June 29, a grand opening, and a kickoff to Canada Day,” Burn said.

The projects are the just the latest improvements the village has been making in the popular park.

“We're turning it into something that's very family-focused, with a lot of variety of activities,” Burns said.

Along with its popular riverfront walkway, parking area and chip truck, the park has been home in recent years to a seasonal weekly evening farmers' market.

“That brings a lot of people down there,” Burns said.

“The whole idea is to start generating more traffic to support the businesses in the area and just develop the whole community.”